Choppers collide in mid-air, 9 IAF men die

Nine Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were killed when two MI-17 helicopters collided in mid-air near the Jamnagar Air Force station on Thursday.

The incident took place in Sarmat village near the IAF station soon after the two choppers took off from the air base, Jamnagar district superintendent of police Harikrishna Patel told Business Standard. Sarmat village is located about 15 km from Jamnagar city. "All the nine persons on board the two choppers which collided mid-air have died," Patel added.

Villagers who were first to reach for rescue said that six people had died on the spot and three where rushed to Air Force hospital, but later succumbed to injuries.

According to IAF officials, "The helicopters had taken off from Jamnagar airbase and were on a routine flying training mission."

"There were nine personnel on board and all succumbed to injuries," an official release from the defence ministry said. "An inquiry has been ordered to investigate into the cause of the accident," it added.